ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday condemned the life-imprisonment sentence handed to prominent Kashmiri leader Asiya Andrabi, as well as the 30-year prison terms awarded to her associates, Fehmeeda Sofi and Nahida Nasreen, by a court in New Delhi.
Ms Andrabi is the founder of Kashmiri rights group Dukhtaran-i-Millat (Daughters of the Nation).
The court sentenced her, Fehmeeda and Nasreen under the Indian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after government prosecutors alleged that Ms Andrabi was involved in a conspiracy to carry out militant activities.
In a statement posted to social media platform X, the Foreign Office said the verdict constituted a “grave miscarriage of justice” and reflected the “continuing suppression of fundamental rights” in India-held Kashmir.
“Pakistan views this decision as part of a broader pattern of politically motivated prosecutions aimed at silencing dissenting voices and intimidating those advocating the legitimate rights of the Kashmiri people,” the FO said. “The sentencing raises serious concerns regarding due process, judicial independence, and adherence to international human rights obligations.”
Asiya Andrabi has long been a vocal advocate for the Kashmir cause, the FO said, adding that her conviction and harsh sentencing underscored the “shrinking space for political expression and civil liberties” in the occupied territory.
It said Pakistan believed that such actions further exacerbated tensions and undermined prospects for peace and stability in South Asia. The FO urged the international community, including the United Nations and global human rights organisations, to take immediate notice of this development and to hold India accountable for its actions in held Kashmir.
It called for the “protection of the political, social, and human rights of the Kashmiri people, including the right to freedom of expression and a fair trial”.
Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2026